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Starting your own digital
newsletter is an exciting business model with virtually
unlimited opportunities for entrepreneurs. The low startup
costs
-- you can get started with a site and email delivery
system for less than $100 -- and ability to work from anywhere
make it ideal for anyone looking to break into the world of
publishing.

You can monetize your digital newsletter with advertising,
sponsorships, product sales, subscription
fees and even earn commissions for referred sales.

But with the low barrier to entry comes increased competition,
and the space is really heating up. To give your fledgling
digital newsletter a jump-start, here are four of the best-kept
secrets to getting started on the right foot:

1. Get specific.
Your first instinct might be to pick a very wide and broad
category like "health" or "money," but that is dangerous. There's
an old saying: "When you try to sell to everyone, you end up
selling to no one." The key is to be laser-focused and connect
with a core audience.

A simple way to figure out a good newsletter topic is to narrow
it down twice. For example, if you want to do a digital "health"
newsletter, going one level deeper could be a "Natural Health for
Women" newsletter. Then, take it one step deeper and you have
"Natural Health for Women Over 50" or "Natural Health for
Pregnant Women." Now, you can stand-out and reach a focused
target market.

2. Offer a premium versions.
Before you write your first issue, consider offering two versions
of your newsletter. A "standard" issue which features rock solid
content, and a "premium" version with even more benefits to your
subscriber. There will always be a percentage of your audience
who wants a premium version of anything you offer, so give it to
them. Offering a paid version will also help your immediate cash
flow.

Premium versions can include monthly live webinars, video
training, and even a private forum for community and networking.

3. Submit to free digital newsletter
directories.
There are dozens of free directories featuring digital
newsletters. While a single listing might not generate tens of
thousands of subscribers, it's a good way to start getting the
word out about your publication.

Do a simple search for "newsletter directories" and you'll see
listings like The Ezine Directory. Simply follow their
instructions and submit your newsletter.

4. Interview other experts.
This is my favorite startup tactic. Find other experts with an
active presence online and interview them. This simple strategy
delivers three powerful benefits.

First, it gives you fresh, original content for your newsletter
without having to come up with it yourself. Second, there's a
good chance the person you interviewed will mention it to their
followers and subscribers. That's free traffic and a potential
windfall of new subscribers. And finally, it allows you to build
relationships with other influential people in your market, which
is the real key to success in any business.

This is an exciting time to start a digital newsletter. And those
who move fast and begin connecting with their subscribers will be
rewarded with a fun -- and profitable -- business.